Art & Design

Curriculum Intent

We develop emerging artists. Imaginative. Inquisitive. Innovative. Art scholars explore a range of transferable skills, building confidence, competence and creativity. Art scholars develop an appreciation of cultures beyond their own experiences. Art scholars grow increasingly reflective on themselves as individuals and as emerging artists ready to critically explore links between their own ideas and that of others. Art scholars critically explore links between their own artwork and other artists. Driven by their own creativity, art scholars experience the joy of achieving a goal whether that be completing own art piece, mastering a skill or reaching an academic target.

Key Stage 3

Year 7

In year 7, scholars focus on an introduction to the formal elements (line, tone, colour, shape, form, texture & pattern) & techniques to develop their skills and subject knowledge in art & design. They use tone, colour shape and pattern to produce a range of work personal to them but also linking in to artists and art movements such as pop art & the impressionists, John Tenniel and Peter Blake.

Year 8

In year 8, scholars continue with their use of the formal elements & we start introducing artists in more detail, linking them in to small projects and themed work. More abstract styles of art are introduced and the skills and techniques they use reflect this with cubist collages and paintings inspired by Kandinsky and the music of Tchaikovsky. We also begin to introduce self-evaluation and interpretation of their work and of artists work too.

Year 9

In year 9 we introduce the use of artists & techniques to develop personal work/responses, which is a key part of their GCSE portfolio. They learn to develop a piece of their own work but investigating the work and techniques used by artists and art movements and then use these to make a piece of their own work from a primary resource.

Key Stage 4

This is an excellent general introduction to the study of art, craft and design. You’ll look at different approaches to art and use lots of different media, techniques and materials.  The skills you gain make it a great complement to other subjects. Art and design is a way of seeing things and making sense of the world around you. It can help you with further study and prepare you for the world of work.

Year 10

In year 10, scholars formally begin their GCSE with their Component 1 portfolio of evidence: they will produce at least one sustained project and a selection of further work that represents the course of study. The scholars will look at different approaches to art and use lots of different media, techniques and materials. This is worth 60% of their overall marks towards their final GCSE score. Completing the portfolio of evidence will take one academic year and will be handed in at the beginning of Year 11.

Year 11

In year 11, scholars complete the second part of their GCSE with their Component 2 externally set assignment. Often seen as the ‘exam’ for art & design by scholars, the AQA paper features seven tasks or starting points and scholars have to complete just one of them independently as a sustained project over a 12 week period of  preparation time, culminating in ten hours of supervised time to produce a final piece of work. This is worth 40% of scholars total marks towards their final GCSE score.

Useful Links

AQA Art, Craft and Design - Subject Content Tate - Art Tate - Art Terms Art UK Google - Arts & Culture

Curriculum Overview